New details have emerged about a kissing couple that appeared to share a romantic, intimate moment in the midst of the chaos of the Vancouver riots.
A photo of the couple went viral in the days after the Stanley Cup final, published online and in newspapers and newscasts around the world.
In the stunning photo. Alexandra Thomas and Scott Jones, an Australian, can be seen embracing and kissing while lying on the pavement, seemingly unaware of the chaos all around them. A police officer wearing riot gear stands in the foreground, while crowds of demonstrators and police appear in the background.
Speculation abounded over whether the scene was staged, Photoshopped or if the gesture was meant as a political statement.
But a new YouTube video has emerged showing the moments that led up to the kiss.
In the video the couple can be seen at the back of a crowd of people being herded down the street by riot police. Then suddenly, the pair is pulled out of the group by two officers who force them to the ground.
The camera moves away from the couple for a few seconds, following the crowd. When it pans back, Thomas appears to be crying in pain, with Jones by her side.
Police continue to clear the crowd around the couple, who then share the iconic kiss that was captured by a photographer.
Jones' father Brett Jones, said the couple was surprised by the attention the photo received.
He told CTV News Channel from his home in Perth, Australia that his son was simply trying to comfort his girlfriend who had received a few bumps and bruises in the scuffle with police.
"To them, until they saw the shots up on the Internet, it was just something that happened and they've sort of just forgotten about it and moved on," Jones said.
Taken by freelance photojournalist Richard Lam, the image went viral after the Canucks lost Game 7 to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night.
